Power-Ground Plane Partitioning and Via Connection to Utilize Channel/Trenches for Power Delivery

ABSTRACT

An apparatus that includes a plurality of metalized planes, one or more dielectric layers separating the plurality of metalized planes; and one or more conductive trenches connecting to at least one of the plurality of metalized planes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/891,398 filed on Aug. 10, 2007 and adivisional application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/891,418 filed on Aug. 10, 2007, which are divisional applications ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/409,890 filed on Apr. 8, 2003, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,269,899, issued Sep. 18, 2007, which is a divisional ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/068,229, filed Feb. 4, 2002,entitled “Power-ground plane partitioning and via connection to utilizechannel/trenches for power delivery”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,747,216,issued Jun. 8, 2004, and claims a priority benefit thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains in general to circuit design and inparticular to creating and utilizing conductive trenches to improvepower delivery, EMI suppression, and/or thermal dissipation within acircuit structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As printed circuit board designs have increased in complexity, the needfor additional interconnect lines between the components coupled to theprinted circuit boards have increased. To address this need,manufactures have provided multiple layer printed circuit boards whereseveral layers of conductors are separated by layers of dielectricmaterial. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) generally contain four or moreconductive layers, where at least one conductive layer is a groundplane, one or more conductive layers are power planes and outerconductive layers that provide a high density interconnect for couplingvarious components or sockets, which have been mounted to the PCB. Thesemultiple layer circuit boards are fabricated such the conductive layersare each separated by a dielectric layer so that the intermediateconductor layers providing power and the ground planes to the printedcircuit board are not in contact except by vias. FIG. 1 illustrates amultiple layer printed circuit board where layered beneath theinterconnect layers (not shown) is a first metalized layer to providepower, and a second metalized layer to provide ground and where the twometalized layers are separated by a dielectric layer (removed forclarity). A clearance space in a metalized layer may be provided arounda via to avoid connecting with that layer.

The conductive layers of the multiple layer printed circuit boards canbe connected to each other using vias, which are plated with conductivematerial to provide plated through holes. The vias are located acrossthe printed circuit board and connected to mounting locations on theouter conductive planes using conductive traces. That is, mounting padsfor integrated circuits and surface mount components may not be directlyconnected to plated through holes, but can be connected to the platedthrough hole locations using a patterned conductive trace. With theincreased population density of integrated circuits, concerns aboutelectromagnetic interference (EMI), power/heat dissipation, and powerdelivery increase.

For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below whichwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading andunderstanding the present specification, there is a need in the art fora printed circuit board which addresses the above concerns whilemaintaining current circuit board assembly quality, including solderjoints.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a multiple layer printed circuit board where layeredbeneath the interconnect layers (not shown) is a first metalized layerto provide power, and a second metalized layer to provide ground.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of segmented power andground planes connected by conductive trenches

FIG. 3A is an illustration of a patterned first metal coating layer overa core dielectric material.

FIG. 3B is an illustration of the PCB after a dielectric layer isdeposited over the patterned first metal coating layer, a second metalcoating deposited/laminated over the second dielectric, and a viadrilled through the PCB layers.

FIG. 3C is an illustration of the start of trench formation by firstcreating a groove through the second metal layer and the seconddielectric layer to expose portions of the first metal layer.

FIG. 3D is an illustration of the trenches and via after a metalizingprocess.

FIG. 4A-4D are an illustrations of another embodiment for fabricatingmetalized trenches.

FIG. 4A is an illustration of the alternate embodiment for fabricationof metal circuitry.

FIG. 4B is an illustration of the alternate embodiment for adding morelayers to the PCB.

FIG. 4C is an illustration of the alternate embodiment for using a dieto imprint the PCB.

FIG. 4D is an illustration of the die imprint onto the PCB.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of other embodiments of conductive trenchesconnecting segmented metalized planes on a PCB.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a 3D view of metalized trenches andsegmented surfaces.

FIG. 7A illustrates cross-sectional area increase with the number ofmetalized trenches and the increased surfaces that define the trench.

FIG. 7B illustrates the metalized trenches from the side (perpendicularto the length of the trench).

FIG. 8A is an illustration of an alternate embodiment where conductivetrenches can be used to fabricate a Faraday cage within the PCBsubstrate.

FIG. 8B is an illustration of the alternate embodiment with a top viewof conductive trenches that form part of the Faraday cage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method and apparatus is disclosed for creating and utilizingconductive trenches to improve power delivery, EMI suppression, and/orthermal dissipation within a PCB structure. This method and apparatuscan segment one or more metalized layers (planes) separated by adielectric such that the use of the trenches can be realized effectivelyin a package interconnect/via field. For purposes of discussing theinvention, it is to be understood that various terms are used by thoseknowledgeable in the art to describe apparatus, techniques, andapproaches.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, toone skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout these specific details. In some instances, well-known structuresand devices are shown in gross form rather than in detail in order toavoid obscuring the present invention. These embodiments are describedin sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

This invention allows improved current carrying capability, decreasedvoltage droop, and/or improved thermal transfer by adding channelsthereby increasing the surface areas in the direction of the currentflow. The channels can be made from an electrically conductive materialand the result can be an increase in cross-sectional area in thedirection of current flow. Such electrically conductive material can be,for example, metals, metalized paste, or electrically conductivepolymers. The channels can be made from a material that is thermallyconductive and can result in an increase in thermal conduction alongthis increased cross-sectional area. Such thermally conductive materialscan be materials such as, for example, metals, pastes, andfilled-polymer composites. Further, the channels can be made from amaterial that is both thermally conductive and electrically conductivesuch as, for example, metals, metalized polymers, conductive compositepastes, etc.

The channel (trench) is formed by selectively removing portions of theouter metalized layers and portions of base material layers placedbetween the outer metalized layers. The PCB can have as base material,i.e. as one or more non-conducting layers, a laminate such as, forexample, an epoxy resin reinforced with glass fiber, where one suchfiberglass version is FR4. In addition, the trench can be deep enough toalso remove portions of one or more of the inner metalized layers placedbetween the outer metalized layers. The trench can be formed such thatthe direction (length) of the trench is along a path where addedcross-sectional area is desired (in the case of power delivery, thetrench can be in the direction of current flow). The trench can beformed by such techniques as laser ablation, photo-developed patterning,plasma, chemical, or mechanical. The bare trench can then be provided acoating such as with one of the electrically and/or thermally conductivematerials mentioned above and hereafter referred to as a conductivecoating. The cross-section of this conductive coating within the trenchcan provide a conductive path having the improved cross-sectional area.By increasing the cross-sectional area, the per unit length resistancedrops accordingly and the reduced resistance decreases the IR (currentmultiplied by resistance) drop of a power delivery circuit. Thisincrease in cross-sectional area that improves the ability of the pathto carry electrical current can also conduct heat and the surfaces ofthe conductive coating can dissipate heat. The trench, now having aconductive coating (i.e. a conductive trench), can radiate and convectheat off the conductive surface to remove heat from the interior of thePCB. This can occur where the trench makes a conductive connectionbetween an inner layered circuit/plane and an outermost (exposed)circuit/plane such that the thermal dissipation of the interiorcircuit/plane is improved.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of segmented power andground planes connected by trenches and vias. As shown in FIG. 2, anupper metalized plane 202 (plane) and a lower metalized plane 204 can beseparated by a dielectric (removed for clarity) on a printed circuitboard (PCB) 200. The upper and lower metalized planes 202 and 204 areshown as generalized planes, i.e. no specific boundaries, with phantomlines. The upper and lower metalized planes 202 and 204 can besegmented, where the separated upper segments 206, 208, and 210 can beconnected to the separated lower segments 212, 214, and 216 byconductive trenches 218, 220,and 222. The upper 206, 208, 210 and lower212, 214, 216 segments can be stacked so that equal potential segments(i.e. having equal or nearly equal areas) are aligned in the verticalaxis 224 for connection by the respective conductive trenches 218, 220,and 222.

A trench is formed by pattern etching the metalized planes 202 and 204and then by removing the dielectric material separating the planes 202and 204. Each trench 218, 220, and 222 is then coated with a conductivematerial to provide an electrical and/or thermal connection between theupper segments 206, 208, and 210 and lower segments 212, 214, and 216.The coating thickness of the conductive trench can be made to providecross-sections greater than cross section areas attained without atrench for either of the metalized planes 202 and 204. A segment 210 and208 can be patterned to surround and electrically connect one or morevias 226 and 229 respectively and to a trench 222 and 220 resp., oralternatively, a segment 210 and 208 can be patterned to surround yetremain spaced apart (i.e. not connect) from a via 227 and 228 resp.

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate one embodiment of a method for fabrication ofsegmented metalized planes connected by conductive trenches and vias ona PCB. FIG. 3A is an illustration of a patterned first metalized layerover a core base material. The first metalized coating 302 can be copperthat is blanket deposited by several methods such as, for example, CVDor lamination. Patterning, after depositing the metal layer 302, caninclude developing an image in a photoresist coating placed over themetal layer. An etch process can then segment the copper layer 302,exposing the underlying base material 304.

FIG. 3B is an illustration of a second metalized layer and a dielectriclayer deposited over the first metalized layer. A second dielectriclayer 306 is deposited over the patterned first metalized coating 302.Next, a second metalized coating 308 is deposited or laminated over thesecond dielectric 306, and a via 310 can be drilled through the PCBlayers. The second metalized coating 308 can be copper and the seconddielectric 306 can be an epoxy resin.

FIG. 3C is an illustration of the start of trench formation. Grooves 312and 314 can be etched or ablated through the second metal layer 308 andthe second dielectric 306 layer to a depth that exposes circuit tracesin the first metal layer 302. Etching/ablating the grooves 312 and 314in the dielectric 306 can be accomplished by any number of processessuch as, for example, mechanical imprinting, chemical etching,mechanical routing, or laser ablation. For mechanical imprinting, onemethod can use a metal die (not shown) that has a male pattern of thetrenches to be placed into the substrate. Mechanically pressing the dieonto the substrate can displace material and form the trenches. Theprocess to remove metal from an area of the trench 312 and 314 in metallayer 308 can be different from a process to remove the dielectricmaterial 306 in the same trench area.

FIG. 3D is an illustration of conductive trenches 316 and 318 and coatedvia 320 after a coating process such as, for example, CVD, sputtering,electroless plating, electrolytic plating, or a combination of suchprocesses. The coating can cover the trench 312 and 314 (FIG. 3C above)surfaces to create an increased conductive cross-section area where sucharea can be dimensionally tuned by controlling the volume of conductivematerial, such as, for example, metal deposits, polymers, or pastes,that is deposited.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate an alternate embodiment of a method forfabrication of segmented metalized planes connected by conductivetrenches and vias on a PCB. FIG. 4A is an illustration of a patternedfirst metalized layer over a core base material that is a dielectric.The first metalized coating 402, such as copper, can be blanketdeposited by several methods such as, for example, CVD or lamination.Patterning, after depositing the metalized layer 402, can includedeveloping an image in a photoresist coating placed over the metallayer. Etching can then segment the metalized layer 402, exposing theunderlying base material 404.

FIG. 4B is an illustration of a second metalized layer and a dielectriclayer deposited over the first metalized layer. The second dielectriclayer 406 can be deposited over the patterned first metalized coating402. Next, a second metalized coating 408 can be deposited or laminatedover the second dielectric 406, and then a via 410 can be drilledthrough the PCB layers. The second metalized coating 408 can be copperand the second dielectric 406 can be an epoxy resin.

FIG. 4C is an illustration of creating an imprint that results inconductive trench formation. Mechanical imprinting, such as by using ametal die 412 that has a male pattern 414 (i.e. mirror image of thetrenches to be manufactured), can be pressed 416 onto the second or topmetalized layer 412 of the substrate 400.

FIG. 4D is an illustration of the metal die pressed into the substratecreating the conductive trenches. Mechanically pressing the metal die412 onto the substrate 400 can simultaneously displace both themetalized layer 408 and the dielectric material 406 to form theconductive trenches 418 and 419.

The process to remove or displace dielectric material to create thetrenches can be different from a process used to displace or remove themetalized layer.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of other embodiments of conductive trenchesconnecting segmented metalized planes on a PCB. Using the same processesas described above (FIGS. 3A-3D), metalized trenches 502 and 510 can bemade deeper and can connect more than two metalized layers 512, 514, and508. FIG. 5 illustrates a first metalized trench 502 that is formed suchas by etch through two layers of dielectric 504 and 506 to expose athird metal layer 508 on the bottom of the PCB. A second metalizedtrench 510 is also illustrated that is placed through two dielectriclayers 504 and 506 to connect tracings on three metal layers 508, 512,and 514. A third trench 516 can connect the second metalized layer 514with the third metalized layer 408.

With further alternate embodiments, a variety of combinations arepossible, such as, for example, it may be that trenches such as, forexample, deeper trenches connect to only one metal layer to increase thesurface area of a first metal layer only to improve heat conductionand/or to improve electrical conductivity.

FIG. 6 is a 3D illustration of one embodiment for patterns that definesegments of a single plane pair 602 and 604, a first metal layer 602 anda second metal layer 604 where the segments of the two metal layers 602and 604 to be connected by trenches 605 can be positioned opposing eachother. In this embodiment, the upper mask image 602 can later beconnected to a (+) potential and the lower mask image 604 to a (−)potential. The larger surface area 606 in the upper mask image 602 canconnect to the series of smaller surface area segments or fingers 609and 609′ of the lower mask image 604. Conversely, the larger surfacearea 608 in the lower mask image 604 can connect to the series ofsmaller surface area segments or fingers 607 and 607′ in the upper maskimage 602. FIG. 6 is one embodiment that allows multiple electrical orthermal potentials to be realized in two or more surfaces that areconductively connected via the trenches to allow for segmenting two ormore surfaces for connections into typical alternating power-groundfields used in electronic packages.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of the cross-sectional of a metalizedtrench. Illustrated in FIG. 7A, cross-sectional area increases with thenumber of metalized trenches 702 and 702′ and the increased surfacesthat define the trench. In the case of a rectangular trench, theincrease in surface area, for each metalized trench 702 and 702′ isrelated to the length of trench sidewall a and width of sidewall b. Asshown in FIG. 7B, when viewing the metalized trenches 702 and 702′ fromthe side (perpendicular to the length of the trench), thecross-sectional area is unchanged and the conductive path 704 is longerby (2 a) for each trench 702 and 702′ crossed. In the case of powerdelivery, through the interstitial grid of a package (not shown), thenumber of metalized trenches that can be placed between package pins isa function of the metalized trench width (a) and aspect ratio capabilityof the metalization method The surface area of the trench andcross-sectional area after conductive coating can be controlled orincreased by shaping edges and contours of the trench surface.

FIGS. 8A & 8B illustrate an alternate embodiment of conductive trenchesthat can be used to fabricate a Faraday cage within the PCB substrate.The present invention can be a novel device structure for shieldingindividual circuitry from conductive and/or radiated energy. Such as,for example, electromagnetic interference (EMI) from radiationoriginating outside the printed circuit board or from adjacent deviceson the PCB. In an alternate embodiment, a Faraday cage is constructed onand/or within a PCB substrate, to enclose PCB circuitry within astructure of metal.

Usually a complete conductive shell, a Faraday cage collects straycharges and, because like charges repel, stores them on the outsidesurface (where they can be further apart than on the inside). Theelectric fields generated by these charges then cancel each other out onthe inside of the cage. A Faraday cage is often used to protectsensitive radio equipment.

As shown FIG. 8A is a cross-section of a PCB having individual circuitrysurrounding by a Faraday cage. FIG. 8B is a top view of a conductivetrench forming part of the Faraday cage. A number of conductive trenches804 can be fabricated by the methods described above. In one embodiment,circuitry 801 and 801′ can be formed on layers within the PCB 800.Trenches can be formed in both sides 802 and 804 of the PCB. The topsurface 802 and the bottom surface 806 can have a metalized layerdeposited. The trenches 804 and 804′ can be formed in a closed or nearlyclosed loop, i.e., for example, a square as shown here. As a result,selected circuitry can be enclosed within the trench-bottom/top surfacesthus shielding the selected circuitry with a Faraday cage. Othercircuitry 801′ and vias 808 can be placed outside the Faraday cage.Alternatively, vias (not shown) can be placed through the structure ofthe Faraday cage allowing for some degradation of the effectiveness ofthe Faraday cage.

Thus a method and apparatus for joining two or more metalized planeswith a series of metalized trenches having cross-section areas that canincrease the thermal and/or electrical conductive path from one or moremetalized planes has been described. In addition, a series of metalizedplanes and conductive trenches can be positioned such as to create aFaraday cage protecting electrical circuitry and/or electrical deviceswithin. Although the present invention has been described with referenceto specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that variousmodifications and changes may be made to these embodiments withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are tobe regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of conductive segments in afirst plane; a plurality of conductive segments in a second plane; oneor more dielectric layers separating the first plane and the secondplane; and one or more conductive trenches coupled to the first plane,wherein a conductive trench has two side walls that are connected to afirst conductive segment in the first plane and to a second conductivesegment in the second plane.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein aconductive cross-sectional area of at least one of the conductivesegments increases with a number of conductive trenches.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive segments in the first planeand the conductive segments in the second plane are stacked so that theconductive segments having substantially equal areas are aligned in avertical axis for connection by at least one of the conductive trenches.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductive segment ismaintained at a first potential and the second conductive segment ismaintained at a second potential.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe conductive trench has a length in a direction of current flowbetween the first conductive segment and the second conductive segment.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more conductive trenchesis electrically conductive, thermally conductive, or both.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive trench connects to one ormore conductive segments in a third plane.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first segment in the first plane is further connected to athird conductive segment in the second plane.
 9. The apparatus of claim1, wherein at least one of the conductive segments in the first planeand the conductive segments in the second plane connects to power. 10.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the conductivesegments in the first plane and the conductive segments in the secondplane connects to ground.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theplurality of conductive segments in the first plane are connected to theplurality of conductive segments in the second plane such that one groupof the plurality of connected conductive segments in the first plane andthe conductive segments in the second plane to be maintained at onepotential and another group of the plurality of connected conductivesegments in the first plane and the conductive segments in the secondplane to be maintained at a second potential.
 12. The apparatus of claim1, further comprising a first via connected to the first conductivesegment; and a second via connected to the conductive trench anddisconnected from the first conductive segment.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein a size of the conductive trench is adjusted to increasea cross-sectional area for at least one of the segments.